Need for Stephen Drew more obvious than ever two weeks into the season

Yesterday was pretty damn close to a disaster day for the Yankees. Before their 3-2 win over the Red Sox, we learned Derek Jeter and Brian Roberts were day-to-day with a sore quad and back, respectively. Jeter missed just about all of last season with various leg problems and Roberts has missed most of the last four years with all different kinds of injuries. Any sort of physical malady is a red flag with these two.

Then, during the actual game, Frankie Cervelli went down with a right hamstring injury. He had an MRI last night and while the results are not yet available, it sure seems like he is headed for the DL based on the way he crumbled to the ground and limped off the field. Two innings later, Yangervis Solarte appeared to hurt his leg running through first base, but it turns out he took an errant fist below the belt. Don’t ask me how. Soon after that, Brian McCann was hit in the bare hand after a pitch deflected off A.J. Pierzynski’s elbow guard. It looked bad but he is apparently okay. Catchers, man.

In the span of about seven hours, the Yankees almost lost a full infield worth of players. That’s how Carlos Beltran wound up playing first base for the first time in his life last night. The Jeter and Roberts injuries were somewhat predictable given their age and recent injury history — Girardi told Vince Mercogliano that Jeter “went through some (quad) tightness in Spring Training that he got through. He had it in his calf at one point, and he got through it,” which isn’t exactly reassuring — while Cervelli, Solarte, and McCann were a bit more fluky. Cervelli hasn’t been all that durable throughout his career though, so maybe we shouldn’t be surprised.

Girardi confirmed Jeter is not scheduled to have any tests and an MRI on Roberts’ back came back negative, so those two are nothing more than day-to-day. That said, the season is 13 games old and the team’s starting middle infielders are already dealing with physical issues. Brendan Ryan is out with a back problem too. I have a very hard time believing these will be one-time injuries. And, even if the are, the Yankees can not treat them that way. They came into the season with questions about their infield (both production and health) and so far nothing has changed. Sunday was a reminder from the baseball gods.

(Jared Wickerham/Getty)

You’re smart, you know where I’m going with this. Stephen Drew remains unsigned and is just sitting there waiting for a job. He would cost the Yankees only money, their second round pick (55th overall), and a 40-man roster spot. Drew, who is said to be willing to play another infield position, would fit the roster like a glove as a defensively capable shortstop with a dead pull left-handed swing geared for Yankee Stadium‘s short porch. Remember, even when Roberts was perfectly healthy, he was a total zero at the plate (37 wRC+). Long, pain in the ass at-bats (4.56 pitches per plate appearance) are great, but at some point he has to get on base.

The second base problem is one Drew can help correct, either directly (playing there) or indirectly (playing third with Kelly Johnson at second). He’d give the Yankees protection for Jeter and heck, they could sign him to a two-year contract and have their 2015 shortstop situation already sorted out rather than waiting for the offseason. Of course, Scott Boras isn’t an idiot, he knows the Yankees are in desperate need of infield help, especially after the Jeter and Roberts injury scares. I don’t think he’ll take a sweetheart deal (two years, $16-20M?) despite his client’s continued unemployment. But man, it’s a great fit on paper.

The Yankees came into today’s off-day with a 7-6 record and a -5 run differential, but I think they’ve played pretty well overall. Following some early-season struggles, the offense have been productive and diverse, ranking in the league top six in AVG (.273), OBP (.335), ISO (.154), and steals (11). Masahiro Tanaka and Michael Pineda have added a new and exciting dimension to the rotation, and the increased use of infield shifts has helped defensively. The Yankees committed all that money this winter in an effort to win now, but the job is incomplete as long as the infield remains status quo. The team needed Drew before the season and they need him even more right now.

Precisely my thought upon finally seeing this post. Now 200 comments and counting.

RM

Mike totally understanding where you are coming from, but if they waited this long I have to believe there is more to it. I wonder if the medicals are not checking out. Even if they did sign him today, he would need at least 10-15 days in the minors to face live pitching. I have said this on here a few times, with the crowed 40 man roster now is the time to make a move for Nick Franklin or Didi Dregorius. True they will cost players buy it would not add payroll plus you would be clearing a few spots on the 40 man. I really believe if they wanted Drew he would have been playing SS over the weekend. It is time for Cash to bite the bullet and make a trade.

ALZ

I heard Freddy was pitching to him and Morales.

Craig

Drew is just not that good, though.

Offensively and defensively, he is meh. He’s also not really a 3B or a 2B, so let’s not pretend that he is some utility wizard with the glove. he has essentially never played either of those positions before and he has an injury history himself.

So, it is money, draft pick and 40 man spot for a so-so guy who has never played these positions before and is also injury prone.

I’ll pass.

People are making Drew out to be MUCH better than he really is.

Jorge Steinbrenner

At this point, it does feel like too high a price to pay for a guy who is not game-ready. The team certainly needs greater infield depth, as well as 40-man flexibility, but he continues to just not be it for me.

http://www.penuel-law.com/ Cuso

Yep, this.

Cool Lester Smooth

He’s an above average hitter and a good defensive SS. That’s not “mehp.” That’s a good to very good player.

Chris

But they don’t NEED a SS this year… Jeter is not going to be out that long, nor is Ryan. And for the record, let’s be honest here, we don’t have any clue how he will be at 3b or 2b, because he’s never played there.

Offensively, he was excellent in 08, good in 2010 and other than that he’s been injured or meh. I realize the bar for SS is low, but the last time he hit higher than .262 was 4 years ago and the same for hitting more than 13 home runs, not too much in the way of speed either. I’m not looking at all the fancy stats, but the bottom line is that he’s a decent-at-best hitter for a position that we don’t need. Which is why the Yankees or any other MLB team for that matter haven’t signed him. They don’t want to pay that much money for what he did 4 years ago.

Farewell Mo

But they don’t NEED a SS this year…

Right because you’re confident Jeter and/or Ryan is gonna give you 150 games. They’ve had to play Dean Anna at SS already a few games and it’s only 13 games into the season. . If that’s not enough evidence they should sign Drew, I don’t know what is.

Jim Is A (Bored) Peckerhead

Riddle me this, then:

Why would Drew go somewhere to move around the infield, play a lot of games out of position, and only get to play his regular position when Jeter isn’t healthy, potentially playing it worse than usual due to lack of repetitions?

There is seriously no evidence anywhere that Drew wants to come to NY right now.

Jorge Steinbrenner

The last girl left at the bar will always play coy before going home with you.

That doesn’t mean you’re not better off going home alone that night.

The Troll Monger

So “no” doesn’t always mean “no”?!?

Barnacles!!

Stiltzkin

Spoken like a veritable Don Juan.

Tell me Jorge – do you know more about making love to women or about the motivations of the Yankees front office?

Jorge Steinbrenner…lover of women everywhere, Manhattan by residence, Cuban by birth. Even has a college degree!

Jorge Steinbrenner

Stiltzkin? Scraping the bottom of the “what screen name will I use today” barrel there, chump.

JCK

Not like he has so many options…

Jim Is A (Bored) Peckerhead

That’s not a concern to you?

JCK

I wasn’t really commenting on whether Drew is or isn’t a good target, just that the argument that he wouldn’t come to a team where he didn’t get regular playing time at SS loses water every day he is on the shelf. Without options, his choice wouldn’t between playing time at SS and playing time elsewhere or as a super utility player, it would be between playing time and no playing time. Period. If he wants to get paid, he can’t be too picky.

Jim Is A (Bored) Peckerhead

I disagree.

I think he knows eventually someone is going to need SS help, and they’ll be willing to pay for it. Why water down your value by going somewhere to play 2B or 3B?

Looser Trader Droids Kenobi FotD™

Because the season is almost 10% over and getting more over every day?

JCK

Perhaps — though there hasn’t been any indication of that so far.

It depends how much he wants to get paid — for 5 months of the seasons or 4 (or 3, or whatever). Every day he waits, he’s sacrificing dollars.

Also, I’m not sure I buy that playing 2B or 3B really dilutes his value. It’s not like he’s going to forget how to play SS — or anyone is going to forget that it’s his natural position — and adding (proven) infield versatility to his resume could get him more suitors for 2015. *shrug*

42yankee

If Drew is so great, why hasn’t anyone picked him up?? He’s an average SS. Anna is just as good if not better, and so is Ryan. Why didn’t RedSux resign him??The Yanks do not need this over-hyped average SS. He’s kinda like his brother= thinks he’s better than he is….

Cool Lester Smooth

Is OBP still a fancy stat nowadays?

I really don’t think you do understand just how low the bar is offensively at SS. He’s an average MLB hitter, which is about 20% better than the average MLB SS

lightSABR

Drew put up twice as much fWAR last year as every current member of the Yankees’ infield combined. And I don’t just mean starters.

Admittedly, that’s an easy bar to clear given that Jeter, Roberts, and Teix were all injured and Anna and Solarte were in the minors, but that only emphasizes the point: Stephen Drew doesn’t have to be amazing to be a big improvement over what we have.

nyyankfan_7

No but he does have to be healthy, something he’s proven he can’t do.

He can have all the fWar he wants last year, he still missed 40 games. And the year before that he missed 83 games. And the year before that he missed 76 games. What good is having a replacement for all these injured guys that is bound to be injured himself?

He batted .253 with 13 HRs last year in 124 games. Brian Roberts batted .249 with 8 HRs in 77 games. I don’t care what WAR says I’ll stick with Roberts. Any WAR gain on the defensive side has to be negated with the fact that Stephen Drew has never played a single MLB play at a position other than SS.

Jorge Steinbrenner

Thank you, not because I necessarily want to stick with Roberts, but I’m just tired of this insinuation that Drew is anything other than the last girl left at the bar.

Ryan Roberts sat on the scrap heap for a couple of weeks. I would have been so in on that instead.

Frank

It wasn’t hard for him to put up twice as much fWAR compared to the Yankees current IF because none of the guys on the Yankees current IF played in the majors last season.

Jorge Steinbrenner

Kelly Johnson did.

I’ll toss out Jeter and Tex on the grounds that I don’t feel like sitting through “but they barely did” in response.

Andy in Sunny Daytona

FACT: Yangervis Solarte has a higher fWAR than Stephen Drew this season.

Cherrypicking is fun

Bavarian Yankee

SS suck at offense these days so it might surprise you that Drew is actually an above average hitter at short. Heck, last year he even had a wRC+ of 109, so he was even above average if you don’t take his position into account.
Though I’d pass for the other reasons you posted. Also, we don’t know who’ll be available at the trade deadline and once Tex is back an infield of him, Jeter, Johnson and Solarte/Anna/Roberts isn’t too shabby for the time being. Next years FA class isn’t too shabby either (Lowrie, Cabrera, Hardy, maybe even Hanley), so I think Drew would be a half year stopgap only imo unless they can get him really cheap for next year too.

pft2

You should watch more baseball. Drew is clearly an above average defensive SS who kills RHP’ers with a swing tailor made for YS3.
Depending on the metrics used, he was the 5th-8th best SS in MLB last year

SS have always found moving to 3B rather easy. 2B would be more of a challenge. His bat does not play all that well at 3B except against RHP’ers, but then, neither does Solarte or Johnson.

His greatest value is as insurance to Jeter if he misses a lot of time, and his Jeters legs seem to have some of the same issues as last year. It also allows Johnson to move to his more natural position 1t 2B, and be free to backup the not very durable Tex.

Looking ahead, he could be Jeters replacement next year on a multi-year deal, and if not, he would have trade value.

The fact he requires only cash and a 2nd round pick and not a player in a trade for someone else is another bonus

Jorge Steinbrenner

I wish I had a time machine and a slo-mo button. This post would be in the top ten things I’d try to stop from happening. Granted, Mike, it wouldn’t be at the top of the list, but it’d be somewhere in there. Or not.

Owners are tapped out and I think yesterday was just the perfect storm. Jeter and Roberts unavailable and then Frankie goes down. Jeter will be available Tuesday and they’ll get a replacement for Frankie. When Teixera returns it should be

1B Teixera
2B Soley
SS Jeter
3B Kelly

That’s a solid infield. When don’t need Drew.

Roy Munson

On Paper and on the back of baseball cards Yes.

However:

Soley is going to come crashing back down to earth… He was a 26 year old unsigned minor league free agent for a reason (We haven’t seen that reason yet but we will, and my money is on sooner than later)
Jeter is going to have trouble playing in more than 2 or 3 consecutive games at short
Who knows how healthy or ready Tex actually is. He clearly wasn’t ready to start the season.
Kelly Johnson is their most valuable infielder.. and thats not a good thing.

I’m not a huge fan, but the Yanks need Drew

http://twitter.com/rational_sports Rational Sports

I’d love to agree with you, but that is anything but a solid infield. In fact, it’s probably one of the worst in the majors.

Solarte may not turn back into a pumpkin, but that is the likely outcome here (.417 BABIP).
Teixeira has an OPS below .800 over his last 140 games.
Kelly Johnson hasn’t had an OPS over .720 in the past 3 seasons.
Derek Jeter might be the worst defensive player (who gets regular playing time) in all of baseball. And at the plate, he is nothing more than a singles hitter at this point in his career.

Even if you count on Roberts to get healthy and stay healthy (you can’t), nobody has any idea what his production will look like. His eye may still be there, but he hasn’t driven the ball much so far.

Brendan Ryan would solve some defensive issues up the middle, but you can’t start him for Jeter regularly and his bat is a zero (at best).

Jimmy McNulty

That’s a pretty bad infield actually. Teixeira’s last good season was 2011. Jeter’s hurt, less mobile than ever, and no where near the hitter he used to be. Kelly Johnson? Really? That’s an everyday player on a team with championship aspirations? Yikes. Solarte? Man I hope he’s good, but lets be honest. You can’t rely on him.

And the owners are not tapped out.

Looser Trader Droids Kenobi FotD™

I’ll hand it to you Eddard. Your continued ability to provoke responses ^^^ is astounding.

Poconos Adam

Unless you’re signing him to a 2-3 year deal at friendly rates (which is not going to happen) to fill the Jeter-gap for a few years….he’s just another body that won’t do anything special.

I’d rather save the money and the pick and play with the roster to get Sizemore or whomever is the best available on the farm up here.

If there is a long-term injury I could see turning to Drew — but as several posters have said, he does not fill the short term need because he’s not going to be in game shape.

The Great Gonzo

*Insert obvious ‘gap-filling’ Derek Jeter joke here*

Mark L.

Just call up Sizemore – I’m undecided as to whether they should just put Roberts on the DL or simply release.

mustang

THIS TOO!

LK

Right now Scott Sizemore has stuck out in 41% of his PAs in AAA after missing essentially 2 full seasons.

Jorge Steinbrenner

“Simply release” shouldn’t be part of the equation at all right now. The question is whether you go day-to-day with him or DL him.

The Great Gonzo

‘Hey we need infielders… lets release one!’

Wha???

mustang

In the 6 year that I been commenting on this site I never seen anything more beat to the ground then this. Forget the facts that team with a bigger need for this guy then the Yankees have not touch him for whatever reason. His agent is so desperate that he now digging up conspiracy theories.

He left-handed in a very left-handed line-up, the cost, that he mostly played SS, injury prone and that his offense mostly played well in Fenway.

We are STILL beating the same drum even when it’s very apparent that no one is listening.

Jorge Steinbrenner

We can sign him, then trade him for Dom Brown, thus beating the previous deadest horse ever into the ground. After that, we promote Ronnie Mustellier.

Jorge “Horse” Vazquez

*lurks*

Jorge Steinbrenner

Chatoooooooooooooooooooo.

upstate yanks

I don’t see why we NEED Drew? He would fit yes, but not for $$ and a draft pick, not worth it. Cash needs to swing a trade and free up the 40 man log jam.

stuckey

I’m giving Axisa a pass on this one.

During an off-day after the team just won a series from the Sox 3-1, the infield issue was one of the few things to generate some pageviews today.

I doubt even Axisa believes this a much as the post indicates.

mustang

THIS!!!!

mustang

But if he doesn’t get at least 100 comments it wasn’t worth it.

Blake

I really don’t understand why the Yankees and so many fans are so resistant to signing Drew……it’s an even more obvious thing than Stewie not working at catcher.

They need infield help badly….Drew is sitting there for only money….is a 3 or 4 win player when healthy and his market is depressed.

Sign him for a 2 or 3 year deal……if you find somebody else better to play SS then hell he can play 2b in 2015 because they need one of those 2 .

Boston has holes……Tampas rotation is in shambles……now is the time to act……fill the holes….lets try to build a lead rather than muddle through until July and let the other teams get on their feet

RetroRob

His market is depressed only if Boras/Drew are willing to take a lesser deal. I don’t think that’s the case at all.

I suspect we maybe seeing the formation of a new Boras strategy in the Qualifying Offer world.

Poconos Adam

Haven’t you heard the news? The “only reason” Drew and Kendry Morales are still free agents is because several anonymous baseball execs were quoted saying non-positive things about them in an ESPN internet report.

Yep, that’s the latest from Scott Boras Inc.

I wouldn’t use Boras to clean my toilet…..oh gawd….saying his name tasted like crap!

nyyankfan_7

“is a 3 or 4 win player when healthy”

Reason #1 I don’t want him. He’s not healthy, hasn’t been in 3 years.

“and his market is depressed”

Reason #2 I don’t want him. He has an agent who says his market is never depressed. Did you see the infield the Sox ran out there last night? Mike freaking Carp played 3B! Yet they have no desire to resign him either and they don’t lose any picks – why?

And Reason #3 – everyone acts like he had some amazing year last year and I don’t get it. The same people who bitch about Ben Zobrist being a WAR God and over-valued are probably the same people referencing Stephen Drew’s WAR value last year. He batted .260 with 13 HRs in 125 games – on a team full of players that out performed their normal statistics.

Dietrich Enns justifies the means

What scares me most about Drew is your Reason #2. Why isn’t Boston trying to re-sign him? What am I missing? Also, the Yankees and apparently every other team aren’t interested either. And have you seen some of the guys playing SS on other teams?

This whole thing is weird to me. Sometimes I think I’d be happy if they signed Drew and sometimes I think I’d be pissed.

Jorge Steinbrenner

Thank you.

stuckey

Blake, my man!

The Drew argument has always – dubiously – been based on the premise Drew is waiting by the phone for the Yankees to call him.

If I’m Drew, I KNOW I’m not getting a big, multi-year deal this year. I’d expect his goal right now would be to find an everyday job (at one position) to build his value for next year.

I’d imagine he’d probably like that to be at SS too.

He isn’t displacing Johnson at 3rd, not if Johnson is going to continue to take walks and slug. Drew isn’t going to sign to become Jeter’s caddy.

The ONLY semi-attractive option for him with the Yankees is IF the Yankees guaranteed him second base, which means he’d not only have to go to extended ST to get his bat into shape, but learn a no position at the same time.

Strikes me as reasonable he’d WANT to wait until his market opens up more when the draft pick compensation issue clears his path for more teams.

And which Yankees are you effectively telling (by signing Drew) he’s going to the bench no matter how they perform during the interim?

The guy with the .913 OPS or the guy with a .939 OPS.

Yes, a fan can make the argument either or both are going to turn into a pumpkin. But you ARE going to rely on both of them while Drew takes weeks to arrive.

So which guy are you calling into the office and telling doesn’t matter you’ve performed this well so far, doesn’t matter how well you perform the next 2-4 weeks, we’re displacing you no matter what.

If Drew wanted to sign for NO guarantee of a regular starting role, bring him on.

But the reason he hasn’t signed (here or anywhere) is because he hasn’t gotten that, and I’, not sure it’s good for THIS Yankee team to give him that guarentee, at least right now.

Jorge Steinbrenner

Money and the highest draft pick they’ve got left which, while not exactly a pick that guarantees success, shouldn’t be thrown to the wind at a time when we also complain about how thin the farm system is.

The pick shouldn’t stop the team from doing business, but it should be part of the reason why you look for solutions that don’t involve giving it up.

No one else is in on this guy, yet we think he has some amazing chance to help this team.

http://www.penuel-law.com/ Cuso

I agree. 55th pick, while it may not be worth a lot, shouldn’t just be something we’re “glad” to throw away just for the sake of getting Drew here in April vs. June.

Any statements of fact that he is so much better than replacement level between now and June are delusions of grandeur.

So far as I know, Jeter needed a day off. He’s playing Tuesday last I knew. And if Roberts is going to miss time, Sizemore is ready to go. I don’t know how much better Drew really is that a Sizemore/Anna cocktail right now. Frankly, I don’t buy that he is.

Jorge Steinbrenner

People on here will say the pick doesn’t matter and that the team will fuck it up anyway, then they’ll be clamoring for the guy picked at that slot to be moved quicker up the ladder once they look good in Low-A. Makes your head spin sometimes.

A second round pick is a second round pick. It’s not everything, but it’s something.

Preston

The pick is important. If we don’t have a pick in at least the 2nd round than I have no excuse to follow the drat.

mustang

TO ME Need for Stephen Drew more obvious than ever two weeks into the season

FITTED!

TheRealGreg

The problem I have with Drew is that he is a lefty. We need another RH on the bench.

Currently, our RHB are Roberts (switch), Jeter, Solarte (switch), Soriano, and Beltran(switch) with Cervelli and Tex on the DL.

Roberts appears to be cooked, so we need to find someone to replace him

The Guns of Navarone

What about Scott Sizemore? With him at third, you can have Johnson at first (or second) with Anna at short and Solarte can play second or third. Seems like enough.

LK

As noted above, Sizemore has a K% of 41.0 in AAA right now after tearing his ACL twice. If the team has any faith in Sizemore, I think he would’ve been on the team over Anna or Solarte.

Jorge Steinbrenner

I think it more due to his not getting many AB’s in Spring Training. I think the team clearly wanted to get a good look at him.

K Rate, which is one of the quickest stats to stabilize, STILL takes 100 at bats. He hasn’t had 1/3 of that yet.

Jim Is A (Bored) Peckerhead

Damn it. 100 PLATE APPEARANCES(regains anger) and he’s had just over 1/3 of that.

LK

I’m not saying that his performance has stabilized. If his true talent was a K% of 41, he would be out of professional baseball.

Scott Sizemore put up a 1.6 fWAR season as a 26-year-old. Then he tore his ACL twice and missed 2 full seasons. There just isn’t much evidence he’s a good player.

Jim Is A (Bored) Peckerhead

Please then, if we’re not actually claiming that his performance is stabilized, then let’s stop citing his k rate as a remotely helpful piece of evidence. It’s not just you.

LK

If you want to disregard his performance in AAA so far, I think that’s perfectly reasonable. I’m still not seeing any kind of savior in Sizemore.

Jim Is A (Bored) Peckerhead

I’m not disregarding his AAA performance. I’m taking it with 3-4 grains of salt.

People have been saying “45% K RATE!” as if that’s the only piece of evidence he has in AAA.

It’s just as dumb as pointing to his triple slash.

But if you’re going to cite his k rate and not the rest of what he’s done, that’s hardly the objective standard you claim to hold lower in the thread.

Watch how easy it is to just as incorrectly reverse what you said:

As noted above, Sizemore has a triple slash of .344/.436/.500 in AAA right now after tearing his ACL twice, imagine how good he’ll be when he’s totally back!

Jim Is A (Bored) Peckerhead

He also has always, always hit minor league pitching, to the tune of ~130+ wrc+

Are the two years missed concerning? Absolutely. Does he have evidence at all on his side that he can be a useful major league player? Of course.

You’re looking at the injury and ignoring the rest of his career. I’m looking at the rest of his career, regressing it due to lost time, and still seeing a potentially useful piece to this Yankee team.

Yan Solo

I understand this post, but I disapprove of any move on signing Drew. If he was really desirable, the time to move would have been when Teix went down, not now. That, to me, is really telling on the lack of Drew interest.

mitch

I’d take him at the right price, but it’s not like he’s the only option. By the time he’s game ready the season will be a quarter over. Not long after that the trade market will start to develop. I do think they’ll have to add another infielder at some point this year, but I don’t think signing Drew immediately is essential.

RetroRob

It’s possible that Boras and Drew have dug in for the battle and will not sign until after the amateur draft when a compensation pick will no longer be an issue. They’ll try to use that to get a better deal by expanding his market.

The Yankees surrendering a second round pick is not huge, although they still might prefer to wait seven weeks and keep the pick. Yet other teams would lose a #1 pick, which is why Drew’s market is limited, and why Boras is going to wait a few more weeks.

Another option is he may just want to sign somewhere for the second half and then go back out on the free agent market after 2014 with no restrictions. The team that signs post Opening Day can’t make him a QO if I remember correctly. If that was the case, then I’d be fine with the Yankees renting him for the second half.

Once again, it’s not if Drew can help the Yankees. It’s the asking price that I believe has stopped any deal from happening with any team, not just the Yankees.

RetroRob

*can’t*

Blake

7 weeks might be the difference in making the playoffs and not making it….

RetroRob

It could be, but once again and as someone noted above, the belief that Drew is just sitting waiting for the phone to ring to accept any offer is almost assuredly not correct. The Yankees could have an interest, but not at what Boras is still asking.

I remain open to Drew on the team. Always have been. I just don’t overrate him. He hasn’t played in 140-150 games since 2010. Even last year he didn’t play in a third of the games. His offense was heavily, heavily driven by Fenway. The so-called advanced defensive metrics are a bit too kind to him. Might be more of a 2-2.5 WAR player. Bring him on board, but I’m pretty sure the price being asked isn’t what the Yankees want to pay.

Jorge Steinbrenner

After 100 comments or so, this may be the only one needed. Thank you.

Giancarlo Murphy

Nick Franklin is OPSing 1.265 in 40 PAs in Tacoma. If he keeps that up the Ms will find a place on the big-league roster for him. They are smarting from Montero and Noesi so I’m sure the price would be egregious.

Preston

Honestly I’d rather go after Gregorius. At least we know he can play SS. Franklin may have a higher offensive ceiling, but he’s not guaranteed to reach it and he probably isn’t a SS longterm, if he can even play the position now. Gregorius is a plus defender who just had a nice offensive season in the majors and he’s put up a nice little .357/.448/.571 in 48 PAs in AAA this year too.

mitch

Gregorius definitely makes more sense in the long run, but i’m not sure how much he’d help the team this year. I don’t think he’s the type of guy you push to 2nd or 3rd until Jeter retires. I don’t know how much value he’d offer at those positions anyway.

I’m not against making a move for him, but i don’t think he’d solve the infield problem at the moment.

Preston

Well I’m not sure either would step in and start right away given the early returns from KJ and Solarte, and the fact that Jeter is supposed to be back tomorrow and Roberts injury isn’t considered serious. But you stash him in AAA and if the need at 2b or SS arises then I think they get the call. I don’t think either would be well served by a move to 3b though. Neither has ever played a game at the hot corner and neither currently profiles well there offensively.

Farewell Mo

Problem signing Drew now is the Yanks can’t give him the QO so they wont get their pick back after the season.

Should have signed him in ST. If by some miracle he’s unsigned by the June draft, it would really be a no brainer at that point.

Personally I’d sign him for 2 years. It’s not like the Yankees are gonna find anyone better than him for SS next year and he’d probably get 60+ games at SS this year with Jeter breaking down.

Martin L

Please, God. Enough with the Stephen Drew stories. He’s just not that good a player.

RetroRob

Compared to the amount we write about him here, on that you are correct. : -)

Need Pitching & Hitting

“He’s just not that good a player”

Applies at least as much, if not even more so, to most of the rest of the current Yankee IF.

He’s far from great. But he is likely better than most of their current options.

The Yankees could certainly use IF help/upgrades. Drew can provide that. Maybe not to the degree as some would want, but are those better players actually currently available to the Yankees?

I loved it when Solarte was limping off the field CC Sabathia stood up and was looking to get ready to go into the game. Oh man would have that been awesome. Obviously when its such a tight game its nerve racking but one of the favorite things in baseball is when players have to play out of position or you have pitchers playing the field. Its just plain fun to watch.

Though if Solarte did have to leave the game, I would think the Yankees would have had Soriano come play 2B and lose the DH for the rest of the game.

Kosmo

I don´t think Drew is the answer. I´d rather NY just sit tight. Tex will be back relatively soon. Keep KJ at 1B exclusively for the time being and give Anna some reps at 2B.

TWTR

Sizemore should get a shot immediately.

It seems like Hal believes he has spent enough, and it is hard to me to question that aspect of his decision-making.

Dirk Diggler

Now all we need is another post explaining why Axisa prefers Choo over Ellsbury.

Now I’ve done it.

Jim Is A (Bored) Peckerhead

Early returns are weird. Ellsbury is outhitting Choo but Choo is out-defending Ellsbury.

Anyone want to take bets on those two things reversing course?

stuckey

Has anyone noticed any balls that have hit the grass we think Ellsbury should/could have gotten to?

Jim Is A (Bored) Peckerhead

Some of it may be due to weird positioning between him and Gardner.

Subjectively, I’ve enjoyed the heck out of him being out there.

Preston

I was really surprised by his early UZR numbers too. From what I’ve seen he’s been absolutely excellent in the field.

LK

The Yankees are 17th among MLB teams in projected WAR at 1B.
They are 28th in projected WAR at 2B.
They are 26th in projected WAR at SS.
They are 24th in projected WAR at 3B.

None of this is news. If the Yankees haven’t made the move for Drew yet, it’s seems clear they’re not going to, whether the reason is concern over his health and/or performance, excessive demands coming from Boras, or overrating the IF options currently on the roster. From that standpoint, I can understand why everyone is tired of talking about it. However, to claim that the current IF arrangement is good enough, or that Drew wouldn’t help, is pretty difficult to support with any kind of objective evidence.

Jim Is A (Bored) Peckerhead

“However, to claim that the current IF arrangement is good enough, or that Drew wouldn’t help, is pretty difficult to support with any kind of objective evidence.”

Ignoring roster construction, salary constraints, whether Drew wants to sign here or not, and whether projected WAR is a fair measurement of Solarte/KJ/Jeter/Anna, and ignoring Drew’s injury risk, then yes. There’s no argument against signing Drew.

LK

“Whether projected WAR is a fair measurement of Solarte/KJ/Jeter/Anna.”

It’s not a perfect measurement, by any means. I’m not sure how you can argue it’s not fair.

It is not “fair” in that WAR in reality measures what players have done in the past, and when players have only played in the minors it can’t be used to project what they are going to to in a different league.

I thought everybody knew that WAR shouldn’t be used to measure how good a player WILL BE, but what a player HAS BEEN thus far. You also have to take into account where a player played most of his games in any given season, since WAR is not trasladated from season to season, but rather calculated every season.

For example: David Ortíz and a lot of others bat exceptionally well at Fenway but not so good away from those “friendly confines”. Their WAR in Fenway is very high, their WAR away? not so high, that is in a per year basis.

Jorge Steinbrenner

Is Stephen Drew really going to make enough of a dent in those that it matters?

LK

So you’re saying that because the current IF + Drew is still shitty, they shouldn’t bother?

Jorge Steinbrenner

I’m saying options other than Stephen Drew are worth pursuing, and preferable TO ME.

RetroRob

Are you saying that because the current infield situation is shitty, they should just sign Drew no matter what the cost?

Farewell Mo

Where did anyone say ” no matter what the cost?”

Jorge Steinbrenner

The fact that they’re not saying it while saying it’s batshit insane that he’s not a Yankee yet seems to imply that….

Farewell Mo

Keith Law has essentially been saying for months it’s batshit insane Drew isn’t a Yankee. I agree 100% yet I’d still only sign him at a reasonable price.
He’s still only Stephen Drew. Solid player, far better than anything the Yankes have at 2nd, 3rd or short but I’m not breaking the bank for him.
Proponents of signing him likely assume he can be signed on the cheap for a very short term deal like Ervin Santana. If that’s not he case, I’m fine with moving on.

Jorge Steinbrenner

To me, I don’t see how there’s a reasonable cost assigned to Drew. I don’t see how I throw away our highest draft pick for him, even if it’s a second rounder, when the market can be further explored.

I hate to beat the Ryan Roberts horse but, at some point, the Sox players get healthy and he’s out of a 25 and 40-man spot there. May even happen relatively quickly.

Farewell Mo

You must be kidding comparing Ryan Roberts to Drew.

Roberts is coming off 0.9 and 0.2 WAR seasons and has played SS a grand total of 3 innings in his career.

Jorge Steinbrenner

And would have cost….

LK

I said:
1. The IF is not good enough.
2. Drew would clearly be an upgrade.

There are still many possible reasons why it would make sense that Drew is not a Yankee, from Boras making exorbitant demands, to Drew not wanting to move positions if he doesn’t have to, to Cashman thinking he has a trade in the works. Drew not being a Yankee doesn’t especially bother me; the fact that so many people seem intent on refusing to acknowledge the upgrade does.

Farewell Mo

Exactly this.

Jorge Steinbrenner

I don’t think anyone you’re arguing with on here would disagree with Drew being an upgrade over at least one of the depth guys but into a starting role right now. My issue with this is:

1) He seems to be treated like the only possibility way too often.

2) Cost seems virtually ignored when these arguments are being made. You can’t talk about Drew without talking about cost, and that includes the draft pick.

Jim Is A (Bored) Peckerhead

Why are both of you oversimplifying the other side of the argument?

Jorge Steinbrenner

Why is he always saying farewell to the state of Missouri?

nyyankfan_7

now that’s funny, don’t care who you are.

http://www.penuel-law.com/ Cuso

Yeah, sure. That’s a reasonable argument.

Or maybe they should just get someone other than Drew because the price tag is cheaper and the discrepancy between Player X and Drew isn’t as great as you perceive.

Farewell Mo

If that plays exists, please name him and the cost to get him.

Jorge Steinbrenner

I’m not looking through other rosters at the moment but, again, Ryan Roberts sat without a job for a couple of weeks until the Sox brought him on.

Jorge Steinbrenner

And, again, just because there’s no prettier girl at the bar doesn’t mean that going home alone isn’t an option.

I’m beating this to the ground because STEPHEN DREW.

LK

I’m impressed that you can know Player X’s price tag without knowing his identity.

Mikhel

Drew’s production and defense can be replaced with other options at a lower cost and with more versatility. If you allocate a lot of money in a single player who was good offensively 5 years ago.

In his 8 year career Drew has had a batting average ABOVE league average 3 times (2006, 2008 and 2010). An OBP above average 3 times (2006, 2010, 2013).

Defensively all his career he has had an dWAR below 0.9 every year except for one (2009).

stuckey

If you want to deal with objective evidence.

Throw out 1B and SS, objectively. Unless a long-term injury occurs, there is NO circumstance in which Drew factors into either of those position, other than a back-up to the SS, which is a non-starter, because Drew wouldn’t sign to become a back-up.

As for objective evidence in regards to 3rd and 2nd base. Yankees signed a player to play 3rd base for 2014, and so far that player has performed better than expected.

The only objective position left is 2nd base, where the Yankees have TWO players, one of which they signed to be the starter and are NOT going to utterly give up on after 14 days, and the other oh whom hasn’t stopped playing very well since the 1st day (literally) of spring training.

Objectively speaking, Drew doesn’t have a starting position on this team as of April 14.

If we want to entertain the notion he’s going to sign with no guarantee of a starting job and to be a multi-position back-up, and then further make it clear to Solarte or Roberts they’re getting their walking papers in 2-4 weeks, then by all means sign him.

I’m just not sure that scenario is very objective.

LK

It’s pretty obvious Jeter isn’t coming close to playing 162 games at SS this year. Each day he sits, Drew would be the best SS on the roster.

“Objectively speaking, Drew doesn’t have a starting position on this team as of April 14.”

Perhaps the funniest thing I’ve ever read on this site.

Jorge Steinbrenner

Hold on, though: Where do YOU start him?

Farewell Mo

At SS the 60+or so games Jeter is sure to either miss or play DH. He can play 3rd the rest of the time with Johnson at 2nd instead of Glass man Roberts.

Jorge Steinbrenner

That’s not what LK is saying, though. He’s saying he doesn’t have a starting position. I think we all agree he can UTL.

Farewell Mo

Given the putrid state of the infield, If Drew was willing to play SS and 3rd base, which according to Mike, he’s willing to do, there’s easily a spot in the lineup every day for him.
It’s April 14th. If Drew is holding out for an everyday starting SS gig, fuck him and let him wait it out.

Jorge Steinbrenner

That’s not what LK was saying.

Jimmy McNulty

Actually that is what he’s saying. He’ll get regular starts.

Jorge Steinbrenner

Not that I care all that much, or that it matter this much later, but he said “starting position.” That’s not “he’ll get regular starts.”

I’m done discussing this, though. Let’s please move on.

Jim Is A (Bored) Peckerhead

You forget who prompted this reply.

stuckey

Again, why are we assuming Drew would agree to become a super-utility infielder reliant upon the projection Jeter misses 60+ games?

Farewell Mo

Why are you assuming he would not accept that role?
You don’t think he’s pretty worried he doesn’t have a job when I’m sure he assumed he’d have signed with someone months ago?

Jim Is A (Bored) Peckerhead

Because judging on the frequency of injuries so far this year, if I’m Drew, I wait for a team to be a lot more desperate than anyone is right now.

Farewell Mo

Maybe or maybe not. I’d at least throw an offer at him if I were Cashman.

Jim Is A (Bored) Peckerhead

Well I was just saying, that’s why I wouldn’t assume he’s worried.

And none of us know if Cash has thrown an offer at him or not.

Farewell Mo

True. I’ve never said lets lynch Cashman if he doesn’t sign Drew. All I think is he should make a fair and reasonable offer to him since I think he’d improve the team.

RetroRob

So basically, all these notes “arguing” back and forth, are between a group of Yankee fans who believe Drew would help the Yankees but the team should be careful what they pay in dollars and years; and the other side who believe that Drew would help the Yankees but the team should make him an offer, but be careful on what they pay in dollars and years?

We can’t say for sure, of course, but we do know that the Yanks made him that offer last winter and he turned it down for less money. Then, they made another offer this winter and he turned them down again.

Sure, I concede that he has fewer options now, and that has a way of changing minds. But we can’t ignore the fact that he turned down this role with the Yankees twice already for whatever reasons.

stuckey

Why are you assuming he would not accept that role?

Because he hasn’t.

Because his agent is Boras.

Because he’s looking to maximize his value which he can’t do as a super-utility guy.

The first one is the most obvious. I find it less likely than more that he hasn’t received ANY interest at all.

I suspect it’s much more likely he hasn’t received the interest he’s interested in.

Need Pitching & Hitting

“Because he’s looking to maximize his value which he can’t do as a super-utility guy.”

He also can’t do that just working out at the Scott Boras performance academy.

stuckey

Right, but there’s no fire.

As well documented his market opens up after the draft.

There’s NO urgency for him.

The super-utility role will be there for the taking as late as August.

NOW’s the time for him to hold out for better.

Jim Is A (Bored) Peckerhead

Yes, yes he can. All he has to do is stay healthy and wait for injuries.

stuckey

“It’s pretty obvious Jeter isn’t coming close to playing 162 games at SS this year. Each day he sits, Drew would be the best SS on the roster.”

Are you then suggesting Drew is going to sign here to be Jeter’s back-up, and/or signing here banking on the fact Jeter will hit the DL for a long period, or often?

Yes or no?

“Perhaps the funniest thing I’ve ever read on this site.”

What’s funny about it. The most frequent lack of understanding on forums like this is fans treating players in ways managers and front offices do not.

The NY Yankees have to run this guys out every day and ask them to perform and be an integral part of the team.

Your “objective” premise is Johnson and Solarte will eventually regress, to the the point in which a relatively marginal player like Drew would be a significant upgrade. That’s fine for fans on a message board, but its not how teams handle players.

Drew is no superstar. Signing him and guaranteeing him a starting position is telling the other players involved you expect them to fail.

If YOU and I know Drew isn’t signing with the Yankees without the guarantee of a starting position and the players would know it too.

If we want to argue this under the conceit Drew would simply be signing to be on the 25 man roster and his role may be 24-25th man supersub, then sure, as i already said, by all mean sign him up.

But again, I think that’s that the objective view.

So objectively speaking, you tell me. You sign him this afternoon. Who are you telling tomorrow afternoon their position and maybe even their roster spot is on limited time?

Mikhel

I don’t like using cumulative WAR measures but… Ryan has a higher WAR since 2010 than Drew and 0.3 less WAR than Drew with Ryan having played one less season.

Defensively Ryan runs 5 circles around Drew before Stephen catches him in dWAR.

Drew is a “good hitting” about league average (in defense) SS.

Preston

The four infielders will put up 8 WAR and be a league average infield. I’ve been saying this all off-season. Kelly Johnson is a perfect fit, (he already has .6 WAR) Jeter and Tex will both be productive for some portion of the season and Solarte, Anna, Roberts and Sizemore will all be solid if unspectacular contributors.

LK

Sweet. Who wins the World Series this year?

Jorge Steinbrenner

The Stephen Drews.

Bavarian Yankee

post of the day :D

Jorge Steinbrenner

Must be a slow day.

Bavarian Yankee

well, it’s an off-day, so yeah.

Preston

Obviously I can’t guarantee that. But there hasn’t just been doom and gloom so far this season. The Kelly Johnson projections are light because he was a super utility guy last year, so some projections only having him playing 89 games. He’s probably going to play closer to 150, given his hot start and how his swing is catered to the home park 2.5 wins seems like a fair expectation at this point. Jeter has had some leg problems, but the ankle is healed. He also has shown he can still hit a little. We got nothing from him last season. If he plays even 100 games this season I find it hard to imagine he’s not going to give us 1.5 WAR. It sucks that Teixeira got hurt. But at least it isn’t the wrist. He’ll be back soon and he’ll get stronger as the season goes on. I’m not buying into “Solar Power” but I think that Anna, Solarte and Sizemore are better than any of the depth pieces that we had a year ago when things went south. Roberts is worrisome, but it’s not like anybody was penciling him in to do anything special anyways. This team may not have a great plan A for some infield positions, but Cashman compiled a lot of depth and it’s paying off in the early going.

Jim Is A (Bored) Peckerhead

“it’s paying off in the early going.”

Not enough, apparently.

Preston

I remember a time last season when Jayson Nix was both the best SS and 3b on the roster. And when he got hurt I remember desperately wanting him back healthy. I’m not saying that Sizemore or Roberts can be healthy enough to be what they once were, or that Anna and Solarte are going to be solid starters. But I like all four of them better than Jayson Nix, and unlike this time last year Jeter and Tex are only out for a couple of days, not a couple of months. So I apologize for not being all doom and gloom about the infield situation. Especially given the way that the OFers have played and now that McCann is heating up. We have the third best wRC+ in the AL right now. Last season we were tied for the worst.

Jorge Steinbrenner

Jayson Nix is available, isn’t he?

I’m not even going to say it. It’ll be worse than my Nunez comment from yesterday.

Jorge Steinbrenner

Or is he sitting in AAA for Tampa?

Preston

Nix was traded to the Phillies for Cash. He is currently on the big league roster.

Jorge Steinbrenner

The youth movement continues in Philly.

Jim Is A (Bored) Peckerhead

Adjusted WAR Projections:
KJ: 1.7 WAR
Roberts: .2 WAR
Solarte: 1.3 WAR
Jeter: .6 WAR
Tex: 1.4 WAR
Anna: Probably not much more than .4 WAR but fangraphs died.

I think 8 WAR is probably a bit optimistic.

Preston

Anna is projected for 1.8 WAR, and these aren’t really adjusted, they’re just taking the preseason projections and subtracting what they’ve done so far. KJ and Solarte in particular should be adjusted up a bit both because of early season production and increased playing time.

Jim Is A (Bored) Peckerhead

Ah then there you go. I was annoyed that fangraphs had died on me.

I’m on your team in general, I like the depth and potential of what we have. Not to be all-stars, but to be sufficient if our pitchers live up to our hopes and our OF stays healthy.

LarryM Fl.

Yankees need to make a trade. Either at short or third. It will not come cheap but the playoffs can be made with a little bit more firming of the 25 man roster.

On my confidence poll I went from 7 to 6. We need inf help either at short or third. We cannot have and infield of Solarte, Anna, Johnson, Roberts on any given day and expect to make the playoffs. A solid third baseman might be cheaper than a shortstop. But Jeter can not play everyday but Anna seems very competent as a fill -in as does Solarte. A third baseman, Jeter, Johnson and teix. then we can make it to the playoffs. I believe it can be done.

stuckey

You should table this until July.

How often do teams trade starting caliber position players for prospects or marginal ML players in April=May?

Kosmo

sure it´s unusual for this time of year and it would greatly surprise the heck out of me but well you never know ??

stuckey

Unless a team can argue that David Phelps would represent a roster upgrade over the really good 3rd basemen we want, then we DO know.

No ML team is throwing in the towel in April-May.

Just NEVER happens.

Kosmo

April 26, 1974: Chris Chambliss traded by the Cleveland Indians with Dick Tidrow and Cecil Upshaw to the New York Yankees for Fred Beene, Tom Buskey, Steve Kline and Fritz Peterson.
Just one I seem to recall. Granted it´s a long time ago but it does happen.

stuckey

Fair enough.

40 years ago in the non-WC, two division era, and by Cleveland.

But perhaps that means we’re due.

Kosmo

the odds are minimal. I get it. LOL.

Mikhel

a few seasons ago it also happened but I can’t remember what team it was, that their GM was highly ciriticed for the moves, and the team made a run towards the end of the season after their trades in early May.

Jorge Steinbrenner

I assume you mean Wright.

Reuben Sierra’s Chains

This is GM malpractice to the highest degree. Go get Drew. Fuck!

Jorge Steinbrenner

You clearly like him more than LK and Farewell MO combined.

Mike HC

Maybe Steinbrenner refuses to dish out the extra cash. If money was no issue, it wouldn’t make any sense for Cashman not to just add Drew.

Need Pitching & Hitting

It definitely seems that budget is the biggest factor in their choice to go with the current IF cast of characters.

stuckey

Maybe tonight on Sportcenter we’ll find out how Cashman sent 3 ruffians to Drew’s house, tied him up with duct tape, threw him in the back of a white Ford Econovan and forced him to sign a contract to be the Yankees super-utility infielder with his teeth.

Mike HC

Cashman can jump out of planes, repel down buildings, make ninja trades, and woman can’t help but stalk him. What I’m trying to say is, if he wanted Drew, he wouldn’t need to send 3 ruffians. He has the particular set of skills to find him and … sign him.

Kosmo

Chisenhall, Franklin and possibly Ryan Wheeler are the only options I´d be interested in. Chisenhall has seemingly fallen out of favor with Francona. Franklin has no apparent position with Seattle unless Brad Miller doesn´t cut it at SS. Wheeler has no chance to play 3B with Arenado blocking him and at 1B with Morneau/Cuddyer/Pacheco.

Jorge Steinbrenner

There we go. I’d be interesting in seeing what it took to get Chisenhall. Sure. Still in on the others.

Jorge Steinbrenner

InteresTED.

emac2

I think Boras must be offering to split his commission with the media.

Why in the world would we address or shortage of corner outfielders with another middle infielder?

That’s just nuts

Mike HC

Agreed if it is a one year deal. If we can get him for two, it would help because we will have a shortage of middle infielders next year too.

emac2

True on year two but if we are going to spend 10 mil to improve the team for this year I would rather spend on something else.

I don’t think drew next year would be worth failing to make the right move this year.

Mike HC

Good point. I can get with that thinking.

emac2

Corner infielders that is.

http://mikemc442@aol.com McCannInCT

NO! This is where acting impulsively can cost you big time. This club is 7 & 6, not 3 & 10. Solarte and Anna have been fine — they have not cost this club any games. What are the odds Stephen Drew will outplay Solarte or even Anna?

While I am skeptical about Roberts and his medical history the past four years, anyone who thinks Drew is any kind of an upgrade is kidding themself.

Fernando

Goodness, I love this site BUT….enough already with Drew. He just isn’t that good.

Jeter is supposed to be ready today, Tex expetced to be ready in one week. Call up Romine to replace Cervelli.

What they need to do is package someone of these guys like Flores, Romine, Claiborne and Turley to clear up 40 man cap space.

mustang

Wow almost 150 comments there is genus to Mike’s madness.

Here my list of the most beating the deadest horse into the ground topics:

1- Joba starter or reliever. After while some us just wanted dead.

2- Our current to Drew or not to Drew. I don’t know whom going to be happier when Drew finally signs Drew, Boras, or mankind.

3- Johan Santana trade for Hughes, IPK, and Melky. I must admit I did LOTS of dead horse beating on this one to the point that Mike called me on it. Mike you have gotten your revenge(DREW) in full now can we have peace?
Feel free to add to the list.

mustang

over 150 comments and genius not genus.

Preston

Granderson for Jackson and IPK still gets play. I think it’s more than to Drew or not to Drew, but behind the other two. I’d be interested to see if we could have traded Nunez for Lee comes up again now that Nunez is gone (hopefully out of sight out of mind).

Michahiro Pinaka

Domonic Brown.

mustang

I avoid this one , but I hear its right up there.

coolbreeez

Drew signing will be adding a third frail SS. Thumbs down.

Jimmy McNulty

Three frail shortstops are better than two.

Michahiro Pinaka

Is Stephen Drew Cuban?

Jimmy McNulty

Drew and Morales seem like obvious fits here. Drew’s a good defensive shortstop, and in all likelihood capable of playing second or third. Someone’s going to sign him. Jeter’s going to be gone next season, and I don’t think Alex ever plays for the Yankees again. So there’s two infield holes next season, why shouldn’t the Yankees sign him? Teixeira has been dealing with injuries and terribleness lately too…why not sign Morales too? Not saying that these guys are the answer or anything, nor am I pretending like they’re getting Votto and Tulowitzki, but these guys are obvious fits that make the team better. Boston’s off to a slow start, Ortiz has to get popped again sooner or later, and Pedroia’s hurt. This seems like an obvious time to strike. Maybe they get another AL East Championship with only 88-90 wins? I don’t see what the hold up is. Is there a new CBA quirk where you have to wait so long to sign a guy before you surrender a draft pick?

Mikhel

There is a 25 man cap in the roster, who do you take out of the current roster to add Drew and Morales? and why?

mustang

NEW YORK — Even though they are in the midst of an infielder shortage, there is “no way” that the New York Yankees will sign free agents Stephen Drew or Kendrys Morales, a source familiar with the team’s thinking told ESPNNewYork.com on Monday.

“Nobody’s signing Drew or Morales, not at the money they’re asking,” said the source, who requested anonymity.

Drew, who earned $9.5 million as the everyday shortstop for the Boston Red Sox last season, is reportedly seeking a multi-year deal worth $14 million a year. Morales, who played 30 games at first base last season for the Seattle Mariners and was paid $5.25 million, reportedly turned down “multiple contract offers” this winter to return to Seattle in 2014.

NO MEANS NO!!!!

mustang

So Drew is at least 2 for 28……… LMAO!

Bronx Boy

Cool, I’m in the choir, man and I hear your preaching, but we really need a plan at 1st. I know the love, the dream, the passion is to have a healthy Tex back, but what if … and ‘what if’ is looming large these days.

I’m loving big Beltin’ Betran, but I think beltin’ from the outfield is a better idea. The guy looked like a beautiful confused ox on the bag yesterday.

If you did that for every player who soreness in one body part or another and missed only a game or 2 you would fill up the internet and crash it and the civilization as we know it would end.

Drew last year was hit on the head in ST and had a minor hamstring injury that cost 2 weeks. Still managed 500 PA, and has every year except the 2 years he was affected by a broken ankle in a play at the plate.

That broken ankle was the only serious injury that kept him out a significant amount of time. It was due to collision like most of Ellsburys injuries, at a young age, and he is fully recovered.

Sox Hunter

Why didn’t your Red Sox resign him?

Chip Rodriguez

I’d comment on Drew, but Fish Fingers said pretty much everything I would have.

I think Mike is just enjoying the hits and comments here on an off day.

(Over/under on posts here by the end of the day?)

Liking what the rooks have shown so far. Solarte’s got a decent glove and his bat excites me, even with the SSS. Really like what I’ve seen from Anna in terms of his glove, and his bat is solid while unspectacular.

Meanwhile, half the arguments I’m seeing on Drew seem to involve him playing third so that Johnson can be at second.

If that’s the big issue, why not just look for a better second baseman who isn’t Drew (won’t cost a draft pick)?

mustang

“I think Mike is just enjoying the hits and comments here on an off day.”

200 hits on a played out bullshit topic Michael Axisa= Mad Genius!

pft2

“Meanwhile, half the arguments I’m seeing on Drew seem to involve him playing third so that Johnson can be at second.”

You are not paying attention then. He is insurance for Jeter who is plagued by the same leg injuries that kept him off the field last year. On a multi-year deal he would be Jeters replacement
(and please don’t mention the no OBP JJ Hardy, the unaffordable Ramirez, the inconsistent Absdural or the defensively challenged and injury prone Lowrie)

Playing 3B also allows Johnson to back up Tex at 1B more often since it is clear Tex may not be all that durable anymore either.

Solarte may just be another flash in the pan. Got off to a great start but pitchers seem to have the book on him now (plenty of off speed pitches)

Also, any second baseman or other IF’er you want to acquire would require a trade. You have to give something up. With Drew its just cash and a 2nd round pick

King of Fruitless Hypotheticals

is there a point in the year when Drew doesn’t cost a pick anymore?

mustang

June

willie w

I will give Drew $5 million a year
that’s a lot more than 99% of the world makes per year
any more than that then he and boras truly deserve each other.

pft2

Good article, completely agree. The Yankees and Tigers insistence on staying away from Drew despite a clear need suggests there may be something else going on that I can only speculate about.

Drew is unlikely to sign a 1 yr deal to play a position other than SS. So give him a 3 yr deal since they will need a SS next year anyways. If something that’s more attractive comes along at SS, his contract should be easy to move in a trade.

Yankees payroll down 30 million from last year (including tax), so they can afford him (probably could get him for 3/35)